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New Mexico State University-Dona Ana
Las Cruces, NM 5,177 Undergrads 25.4% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$14,397
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$6,048
After Aid
Median Earnings
$54,874
4yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$6,048
Peer Midpoint: $9,847
Earnings (10yr)$54,874
Peer Midpoint: $50,127.5
Graduation Rate25.4%
Peer Midpoint: 34.6%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients49.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time55.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS55.4%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
100.0%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$572k
+$64k
+$95k
Median Cost$6k/yr
+$561k
+$53k
+$83k
Full Cost$14k/yr
+$546k
+$37k
+$68k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
27
∞
Median Cost$6k/yr
29
752%
Full Cost$14k/yr
31
258%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return589%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return95%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Certificates
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers
CertCIP: 4603
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $53,078
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health and Medical Administrative Services
CertCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $35,447
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Library and Archives Assisting
CertCIP: 2503
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $40,350
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Precision Metal Working
CertCIP: 4805
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $48,702
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Associate's Degrees
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
AssocCIP: 5108
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $42,269
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
AssocCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$9,000
Earnings (4yr)
$68,291
Nat: $65,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$200k
Architectural Sciences and Technology
AssocCIP: 0409
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $55,403
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations
AssocCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,674
Nat: $48,733
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
Business Operations Support and Assistant Services
AssocCIP: 5204
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$23,930
Nat: $37,587
Lifetime Value Added
-$218k
Business/Commerce, General
AssocCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$7,542
Earnings (4yr)
$42,773
Nat: $49,927
Lifetime Value Added
-$43k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
AssocCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $54,246
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Criminal Justice and Corrections
AssocCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$8,550
Earnings (4yr)
$35,798
Nat: $46,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$113k
Culinary Arts and Related Services
AssocCIP: 1205
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$14,442
Nat: $39,605
Lifetime Value Added
-$322k
Data Processing
AssocCIP: 1103
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,247
Nat: $51,859
Lifetime Value Added
+$59k
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5106
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$44,170
Nat: $61,982
Lifetime Value Added
-$3k
Design and Applied Arts
AssocCIP: 5004
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $38,127
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1513
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $55,895
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Nat: $67,792
Lifetime Value Added
-$110k
Engineering, General
AssocCIP: 1401
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $72,916
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1505
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,674
Nat: $55,148
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
Fire Protection
AssocCIP: 4302
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $73,589
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Graphic Communications
AssocCIP: 1003
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $36,221
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health and Medical Administrative Services
AssocCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$20,140
Nat: $37,073
Lifetime Value Added
-$259k
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR)
AssocCIP: 4702
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Nat: $58,236
Lifetime Value Added
-$110k
Hospitality Administration/Management
AssocCIP: 5209
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,035
Nat: $41,099
Lifetime Value Added
-$217k
Legal Support Services
AssocCIP: 2203
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $44,669
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$9,000
Earnings (4yr)
$39,985
Nat: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
-$71k
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants
AssocCIP: 5139
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $62,755
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Precision Metal Working
AssocCIP: 4805
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$39,299
Nat: $56,451
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k
Public Health
AssocCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$18,771
Nat: $43,759
Lifetime Value Added
-$274k
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
AssocCIP: 0907
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $36,074
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$13,590
Earnings (4yr)
$84,961
Nat: $80,813
Lifetime Value Added
+$347k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
AssocCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$37,514
Nat: $37,656
Lifetime Value Added
-$96k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$18,087
Nat: $58,424
Lifetime Value Added
-$282k
Visual and Performing Arts, General
AssocCIP: 5001
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $32,799
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.